The point is, one is always hostage to fortune and in the end health will decide the outcome, finally.

I tend to consider things on the basis of current criteria balanced against what could happen for the worst. Fortunately, I have sufficient resources to maintain residence in Thailand and to support the wingman to the manner she has become accustomed.

Given our status, I have several alternatives available should we wish to quit Thailand, a prospect I would view with some relish.

But, to be fair, I think that of most of SE Asia these days.

On balance, I think Mauritius would be my next billet if we had to move although the wingman might struggle with adapting but I suspect there may well be a significant coterie of Thai already settled there.

Simon never really explained why he decamped from there. He was initially very fulsome in his praise of the place as evidenced by his posts, both here and on ASEAN, and seemed to have established himself well with decent living quarters and car hire etc. And then he left suddenly. I wonder what happened.

Also, I understood his so-called chest infection bore no symptoms detectable by extensive NHS scrutiny during his stay in Blackpool and one assumes it was all hypochondria which he now attributes to having a “ delicate “ chest.

Being solely reliant on a UK state pension allowance to live anywhere is one helluva stretch and not an existence many might countenance. Laws and policies change, exchange rates fluctuate and economic shocks come with the changing seasons.